(1) The following suits
shall be cognizable by a Panchayati Adalat, namely :—
(i) suits for ascertained sums not exceeding three thousand rupees ;
(ii) suits for damages not exceeding three thousand rupees for breach of contract not effecting immovable property ;
(iii) suits for compensation for wrongly taking or injuring movable property not exceeding three thousand rupees in value ;
(iv) suits for specific movable property or for the value thereof not exceeding three thousand rupees only :
Provided that no Panchayati Adalat shall take cognizance of any suit––
(a) by or against a minor or a person of unsound mind ;
(b) by or against the 1[Chairperson] or any member of the Panchayati Adalat ;
(c) by or against the Sarpanch or any Panch of the Halqa in his official capacity ;
(d) in respect of any dispute or matter in which a suit or application may be brought or made before a Revenue Officer ;
(e) in respect of any matter directly and substantially in issue in a previously insituted suit between the same parties or those under whom they claim, which is pending in or has been heard and finally decided by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a Panchayati Adalat ; and
(f) by or against the 2 Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir or a Co-operative Society or any employee of the local authority or an officer or servant of a local authority in his official capacity.
(2) The 2[Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir] may, by notification in the 3[Official Gazette], confer on any Panchayati Adalat the jurisdiction to hear and dispose of suit, of the nature specified in sub-section (1) of which the amount or value does not exceed three thousand rupees.
(i) suits for ascertained sums not exceeding three thousand rupees ;
(ii) suits for damages not exceeding three thousand rupees for breach of contract not effecting immovable property ;
(iii) suits for compensation for wrongly taking or injuring movable property not exceeding three thousand rupees in value ;
(iv) suits for specific movable property or for the value thereof not exceeding three thousand rupees only :
Provided that no Panchayati Adalat shall take cognizance of any suit––
(a) by or against a minor or a person of unsound mind ;
(b) by or against the 1[Chairperson] or any member of the Panchayati Adalat ;
(c) by or against the Sarpanch or any Panch of the Halqa in his official capacity ;
(d) in respect of any dispute or matter in which a suit or application may be brought or made before a Revenue Officer ;
(e) in respect of any matter directly and substantially in issue in a previously insituted suit between the same parties or those under whom they claim, which is pending in or has been heard and finally decided by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a Panchayati Adalat ; and
(f) by or against the 2 Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir or a Co-operative Society or any employee of the local authority or an officer or servant of a local authority in his official capacity.
(2) The 2[Government of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir] may, by notification in the 3[Official Gazette], confer on any Panchayati Adalat the jurisdiction to hear and dispose of suit, of the nature specified in sub-section (1) of which the amount or value does not exceed three thousand rupees.
1. Substituted for “Chairman” by Act XIII of 2016, s. 12. 2. Substituted by S.O. 3654(E) dated 16.10.2020 for “Government”. 3. Substituted ibid for “Government Gazette”.